Teammates Testify in Support of Jenni Hermoso in Rubiales Trial

Testimonies from teammates of Jenni Hermoso highlight her feelings of being overwhelmed and coerced following the now-infamous kiss from former football president Luis Rubiales, which is at the center of a sexual assault trial in Madrid.

In a significant trial unfolding in Madrid, teammates of Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso provided heartfelt testimonies supporting her account of feeling overwhelmed after allegedly being forcibly kissed by Luis Rubiales, the former head of the Spanish Football Federation. During a court session on Thursday, players Irene Paredes, Laia Codina, and Alexia Putellas took the stand as witnesses in Rubiales' trial, where he faces charges of sexual assault and coercion.

Putellas conveyed to the court that Hermoso felt "overwhelmed" post-incident, while Codina described her as "sad" and not enjoying herself despite the celebratory atmosphere surrounding their World Cup victory. This incident—occurring at the medal ceremony in Australia—sparked widespread protests and calls for Rubiales' resignation after he kissed Hermoso on the lips without her consent.

Hermoso previously testified that she never consented to the kiss, expressing feelings of disrespect as a woman. Initially, Putellas believed that the incident was a "misunderstanding," but Hermoso later clarified her feelings and discontent regarding the kiss when she shared a video of the event with her.

Paredes recounted a moment on their bus ride to the airport when she urged her teammates to stop joking about the incident, stressing its seriousness. Furthermore, Putellas elaborated on Hermoso’s emotional state during the flight home, recalling that she was "crying from exhaustion" after being pressured by Rubiales, who suggested she should publicly deny that the kiss lacked consent.

Codina revealed that during a subsequent celebratory trip to Ibiza, Hermoso displayed signs of distress, exclaiming that despite their monumental achievement, she was "not enjoying herself" and feeling significantly downcast. The court has also heard how Rubiales’ colleagues are implicated in the alleged coercion: Jorge Vilda, the team coach, and other federation officials are accused of conspiring to persuade Hermoso to present a narrative that the kiss was consensual.

During the trial, it was revealed that Vilda warned Hermoso's brother of potential "professional and personal consequences" if she did not comply with their wishes. In her testimony, Hermoso affirmed that she felt abandoned by the federation during a time when she should have felt celebrated.

Prosecutors are seeking a one-year prison sentence for Rubiales for sexual assault and an additional 1.5 years for coercion. Rubiales continues to deny all allegations made against him as the trial progresses.